31 August 2008

Sometimes in Monaco or Beausoleil, you'll find that one side of the road is Monaco and the other side is Beausoleil, in France. There are so many beautiful buildings in this part of Monaco and Beausoleil. Here you see a balcony and in the smaller photograph, the whole building. (click to enlarge). Note the tall windows opening onto balconies, so typical - and how pretty are those lovely curves at each end.

The building is called Palais du Midi and is now mostly apartments with commercial enterprises at street level.

29 August 2008

Remember the jeans-clad lady the other day - well here's another. This time in cut-offs and standing just along from the entrance to the Café de Paris andsomewhat smarter than the people behind her in flipflops and trainers.

What would you wear if you visited Monaco? And if you are a visitor - what DO you wear in Monte Carlo?

28 August 2008

Each summer an exhibition of sculptures is presented in the Casino gardens. Last year it was on the subject of the environment and around 30 artists were represented. This year, the exhibition is devoted to the work on one artist, Sophia Vari.

To see a short video of this Greek sculptor - she speaks briefly - and to see many more of her monumental bronze polychrome sculptures in the gardens this year please click on the link below.

26 August 2008

The Red Gateway is named for its ochre colour. You can see an alternative view in the smaller photo. It's situated between Boulevard Suisse and Avenue de la Costa, which is an area very near to the Hôtel Hermitage. Originally it was the entrance to an enormous private domain called Roqueville. The gate was built in 1819 by the son of the owner.

Nowadays, no domain - all is urbanisation - but the Porte Rouge remains.

24 August 2008

A small pool for a large block of apartments. The setting is gorgeous - look over the edge and you see the beautiful church ofSainte Devote - and ahead the harbour of Monaco, where there is an enormous pool if you want to do lengths.

23 August 2008

Each year Monaco holds its Concours International de Feux d'Artifice Pyromélodiques. 4 or 5 'firework and music nights' are held throughout the summer and for each one, Monte Carlo is packed to the gills. You can't park, you can't get a meal in a restaurant unless you've booked well in advance. The festival has been running since 1966 and a win in Monaco is enormously prestigious. The five judges consider the style of the display, the quality of the colours, the quantity and effects and also that the fireworks synchonise with the music.

This year the contestents were Great Britain, Poland, Austria and Denmark - you see part of their presentation in these photo. Notice the lady's hand in the lower photograph.

When the fireworks start, all the lights around the harbour are extinquished - there's quiet and then suddenly - it all begins -it really is exciting.

And the winner? Austria who presented their display on the 11th August. They take away a cheque for 100,000 euros although the displays probably cost not much less than that.

22 August 2008

No, you don't often see a gentleman walking about Monte Carlo in a bathrobe. He's probably been to the Thermes Marin de Monte Carlo- the Monte Carlo Spa - which is a fabulous gym/pool/everything for health and well-being - and is connected to the Hotel Hermitage, and I think, to the Hotel de Paris too, by an underground tunnel. He is about to cross the road at the level crossing you see to his left - this would lead to the Hermitage. So doubtless he decided to take the above-street route today.

19 August 2008

Monaco has a fairly new railway station. You can enter from various levels. Here is the view as you come down the escalator from the highest level - we are looking at the harbour from the St. Devote corner.

To get up or down involves escalators and lifts and happily, views like this. I look this standing on the moving escalator so am surprised the view remained pretty much in focus.

Click on the link and take the virtual tour. Don't forget the ceiling.

I'm told they have a camera hidden in the ceiling above each table so the waiters can see (from afar) when service is needed and the chefs know when to start preparing the next course. And anyway, don't you just hate a hovering waiter?

14 August 2008

If you tire of the beaches, you can always find peace and beauty in one of the many gardens in the Principality. Here we are in the Casino Gardens. These palm fronds entranced me. (Click on the small photo to see the palm)

I believe this is called Erythea Armata, a palm from California and sometimes known as the Blue Palm. If not, I hope the knowledgeable-on-all-things-horticultural, Tog of Coral Gables Daily Photo will correct me.

11 August 2008

These children are watching the bungee jumpers at the funfair on the port. Perhaps waiting their turn, perhaps just dreaming. What a mixture of faces and expressions. And how beautiful is that little boy on the left?

08 August 2008

A canvas cover on the boat and its reflection. A Riva speedboat. Probably the most prestigious speedboat of all. Click on the link. Once into the website, it's worth looking at the 'Historical' link to see some lovely old boats.

05 August 2008

The medieval village of Eze is on the Moyenne Corniche and very near to Monaco. Climb the village to the cactus gardens and you'll find views to die for. You'll find galleries and workshops galore as you climb the steep cobbled streets. Eze is known for its little art shops.

At the foot of the village you find the Fragonard perfume factory (which also operates in Grasse) and just along from there, you'll find what is probably the prettiest restaurant on the Côte d'Azur - it's called Le Mas Provençal and is decorated with thousands of fresh tropical flowers. Specialities are milk-fed suckling pig, roast lamb - and also a great risotto served in a hollowed out parmesan cheese. It's not cheap tho. I've eaten there a couple times in the past. Yesterday, it was closed for lunch, but I peered in through the wrought-iron gates to take these photos.

Later, walking back to my car, I passed Jude Law getting out of his - waiting for a lady to get out her side. I didn't like to invade his privacy and ask for a photo - perhaps I'm too English! - would you have done so? He's too gorgeous...sigh...

03 August 2008

You'll always find a Ferrari or ten in Monaco but the other day, driving around, I seemed to be seeing far more than usual - and here's why.

These people are queuing for a ride around the Grand Prix circuit in a Ferrari 360 F1 Spider. This you can drive yourself - cost is 85 euros for the driver and 45 euros for your passenger. If you want to be driven around you can hire a 430 CH with driver.

To read more, click on THIS LINK and don't forget to have the volume loud. You won't want to miss that engine roar - or, should I say, purr.

01 August 2008

The first of the month so it's Theme Day and this month's Theme is Metal. Here you see part of a gate frame to the Casino Gardens with the largest of the fountains behind it. Beyond the fountain is the Casino of Monte Carlo - an iconic view of Monaco.

It's hot and humid in Monaco at the moment. The ozone level is not far off critical - people with breathing problems are told to stay indoors and the speed limit has been reduced on all motorways in the Alpes-Maritimes.